Angelic Brown, right, is the president of the Association for Commuter Engagement. She runs the group along with vice president Tamara Dressner, left, and adviser Sarah Griffith, center.

The Association for Commuter Engagement was recently founded at RIT as a major student organization to advocate for commuter students. Fourth-year student Angelic Brown is serving as the first president of the association. The association will be hosting the first ever Commuter SpiRIT Week March 11-15. There will be free events each day, including a commuter resource fair, prize giveaways, seminars and more. For more information, go to www.rit.edu/ace.

Question: Where are you from?Answer: I am from Washington, D.C.

Q: What brought you to RIT?A: The technology program coordinator at my high school recommended RIT to me based on my interest in creating games.

Q: What has been your favorite memory of RIT, so far?A: There have been so many, but I would say that participating in the Halloween Blowout 5K last year with all of the other major student organizations was a very fun experience. I got to work alongside some very great people, and even got to run from zombies.

Q: What organizations are you involved with at RIT?A: During my time at RIT I have been involved with several clubs and organizations. Last year, I was a member of the On Campus Apartment Student Association e-board, and this year I had the chance to briefly serve as a part of the AALANA College Association e-board. Currently, in addition to serving as the Association for Commuter Engagement president, I am an ambassador for both the Golisano Ambassador program and RIT Women in Computing. I am also a McNair scholar and a Multicultural Center for Academic Success scholar, and a member of RIT’s Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation and TRiO.

Q: How did you get involved with the Association for Commuter Engagement?A: As a member of the OCASA e-board last year, I wanted to take the experience I had gained in my position there and apply it to the newly created ACE. After serving my term with OCASA, I thought that my talents could best be utilized in the president position, since ACE lacked direction at the time. Now, after making great strides to help ACE evolve and after witnessing the many successes that the organization has had, I am truly proud to serve as its president.

Q: Why do you think it’s important to engage commuter students?A: The commuter population at RIT is not as easily identifiable as the on-campus population. On-campus students have their information registered in the RIT system and can be more easily accounted for. Therefore, marketing services and promoting awareness of events to on-campus students is a bit easier. As of yet, there is no current system set up that specifically identifies off-campus students at RIT, so the only way to identify them is if they self-report (identify as a commuter student, themselves). Also, on-campus students naturally spend more time on campus, meaning that they are able to make it to more on-campus events, both during the weekdays and weekends, more so than commuter students might be able to. Both ACE and Commuter Life are looking into ways to better improve commuter students’ access to services, awareness of events and connection to the RIT campus. We hope to make it so that both commuters and non-commuters alike feel a sense of place at RIT and enjoy their experience here.

Q: What advice would you give to other RIT students?A: I would encourage other RIT students to find out more about the major student organizations and departments that represent them, and reach out and become more involved with those organizations if they already haven’t. These organizations are there to aid and support RIT students and would more than welcome their involvement.

Q: What are your plans for after graduation?A: I am planning on going to graduate school, but have yet to narrow down what area I plan to focus on.

Matt Gregory compiles “Student Spotlights” for University News. Contact him at msg2110@rit.edu with suggestions.

Angelic Brown, right, is the president of the Association for Commuter Engagement. She runs the group along with vice president Tamara Dressner, left, and adviser Sarah Griffith, center.